Sixteenth Marcel Grossmann Meeting

Constraining modified gravity with quantum optomechanics

5 Jul 2021, 18:00

30m

Talk in the parallel session Variation of the fundamental constants, tests of the fundamental symmetries and probes of the dark sector Variation of the Fundamental Constants, Tests of the Fundamental Symmetries and Probes of the Dark Sector

Speaker

Dr Sofia Qvarfort (Imperial College London & University College London)

Description

In this talk, I will present some recent results on estimating the performance of quantum optomechanical sensors for searches of modified gravity. Specifically, I will show how we derive the best possible bounds that can be placed on Yukawa- and chameleon-like modifications to the Newtonian gravitational potential with a cavity optomechanical quantum sensor. We do so by modelling the effects from an oscillating spherical source on the optomechanical system from first-principles. To then estimate the sensitivity to chameleon-like modifications, we take into account the size of the optomechanical probe and quantify the resulting screening effect for the case when both the source and probe are spherical. Our results show that an optomechanical system in high vacuum could, in principle, further constrain the parameters of chameleon-like modifications to Newtonian gravity.